Jul 11, 2025

Skin in the game

Finalists pitch their groundbreaking ideas at today’s Derm Tank session.

Justin Marson, MD, was the Derm Tank winner at the 2024 AAD Innovation Academy

D001 – Derm Tank
4–5:30 p.m. | Friday, July 11
Grand Ballroom D

This afternoon, clinical entrepreneurs will take the stage in D001 – Derm Tank, an annual competition that provides them with a chance to showcase their ingenuity and move their ideas forward.

The group of finalists were chosen based on prior presentations of their dermatology-related product, device, or technique that could have a lasting impact on the specialty. Scoring considerations include innovation, viability, and value, said Mark Kaufmann, MD, FAAD, who will help adjudicate the event. Dr. Kaufmann is chief medical officer at Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery and clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Ashish Bhatia, MD, FAAD, and Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, FAAD, will round out the judging panel.

The winner of Derm Tank receives seed money to commercially develop their concept. Justin W. Marson, MD, took the honor last year for a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) tool to help standardize and scale 3D imaging. He said the whole experience, from the 2024 Innovation Academy to now, has been a career highlight.

“I have always been interested in the space where technology meets clinical application, more so if it can improve access to patient care,” he said. “To win Derm Tank gave me an immense sense of encouragement to continue pursuing how we can hone technology to work not just for us, as physicians, but also for our patients.”

Justin W. Marson, MDDr. Marson, who is a micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology fellow at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, co-established Berman Medical to develop his winning Derm Tank prototype. Avoiding any spoilers since he’ll give a full update during the session, Dr. Marson said the process has already surpassed his initial plans for the novel technology.

For today’s event, Dr. Marson hopes the finalists can have fun while presenting their cutting-edge ideas.

“I found this unique opportunity to share my work with like-minded, forward-thinking individuals to be incredibly valuable, and, regardless of the outcome, I know they all will too,” he said.

Dr. Kaufmann shared similar pragmatic advice: “Relax. You were already selected because you caught someone’s interest. Now, tell us why this will be a game-changer in dermatology.”

This session is not certified for AMA PRA Category 1 CME credit.